The Power of Smile ™ Oral Health Library
Stay up to date on the current topics and trends in dentistry. Articles are updated regularly on topics that discuss the importance of oral health as it relates to overall health from our team of experts.
Meet The Clinicians
Learn about current topics and trends in dentistry and the importance of oral health as it relates to overall health from our team of experts.

Eileen Crespo, MD
Dr. Eileen Crespo is the Vice President of Medical Services at Delta Dental of Minnesota. Dr. Crespo is a practicing pediatrician of 20 years. She is currently a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and a member of the Board of Directors at Children’s Dental Service and the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

R. Bruce Templeton, DMD
Dr. Bruce Templeton is an oral surgeon and has served both on the board and as a medical consultant for Delta Dental of Minnesota since 2011. Dr. Templeton has served as both the Chief of Dentistry and Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, and as a clinical professor at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry.
Recent Articles
- Taste Buds Grow Up Too
- Clinician's Corner: Baby Teeth, The Building Blocks to a Healthy Smile
- Canker and cold sores
- Why do hot and cold hurt my teeth?
- Chewing gum: a sticky subject
- TMJ Awareness Month
- Thanksgiving cravings to make you smile
- Mouthwash – ask a dentist!
- Scare away cavities this Halloween
- What's new in dentistry?
- Mental health & your smile - the connection
- What kind of toothbrush should I buy?
- Monkeypox guidelines to keep you safe
- Dentures - options and care
- Rehydration - which drinks are best for your oral health?
- 10 Tips for Oral Health and Pregnancy
- 5 foods you didn’t know were good for your teeth
- Ask an Expert: Basics of Toothbrushing
- Athletic mouthguards to protect teeth
- Cannabis (marijuana) and your oral health
- Choosing between a general and pediatric dentist
- Clinician's Corner: A beginner's guide to braces
- Clinician's Corner: Baby teeth— the building blocks to a healthy smile
- Clinician's Corner: Caring for & cleaning braces
- Clinician's Corner: Dental dangers on TikTok
- Clinician's Corner: Dentures do's and don'ts
- Clinician's Corner: Losing Baby Teeth
- Clinician's Corner: Oral health & the immune system
- Clinician's Corner: Pearls of wisdom... teeth!
- Clinician's Corner: Raising a cavity-free kid
- Clinician's Corner: Tips for dealing with dry mouth
- Clinician’s Corner: Acidic drinks & your teeth
- Clinician’s Corner: Dental Sealants
- Clinician’s Corner: Keep kids smiling all summer!
- Clinician’s Corner: Teeth grinding & COVID-19
- Dentists, your child and oral health
- Guide to your child’s teeth
- Gum disease, tooth loss and heart health
- Help your child floss](/article/help-your-child-floss
- How the sun can keep your smile shining
- Oral health in middle-age (30-50 year olds)
- Osteoporosis medications & oral health
- Preventing early childhood cavities
- The connection between diabetes and oral health
- What to do when your child has a toothache
Featured Articles
What do my teeth tell me about my health?
We often mention the impact of oral health on overall health, so let’s take a look at the ways signs or symptoms in the mouth can point to other greater health concerns.
How do I know if I have a cavity?
If you have never had a cavity before, you may be unsure what the experience will be like. Discoloration on your tooth, pain or sensitivity can all be signs that you might have developed a cavity. Your dentist can help you with all of these. See more inside.
Taste buds grow up, too
How and why do our taste buds change as we age? Even the pickiest eaters can grow up to enjoy a variety of foods. How does this happen? Find an explanation of the process here.
Canker and cold sores
In cold and flu season, you might experience canker or cold sores more often. What are these sores and what can cause them? Find out more inside.
Why do hot and cold hurt my teeth?
If you suffer from tooth sensitivity, eating or drinking things that are very hot or very cold can cause discomfort and even pain.
Chewing gum: a sticky subject
Don't get stuck with bad breath or cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth - try chewing some sugar-free gum! See our recommendations for choosing gum that supports your oral health and its possible benefits in this post.
TMJ Awareness Month
November is TMJ Awareness Month. Explore some of the causes, symptoms and possibly solutions in this blog. Be sure to seek help from your doctor or dentist if you experience TMJ pain.
Thanksgiving cravings to make you smile
Even when enjoying festive foods and drinks, you can still care for your oral health. Here are some ideas for creating a more healthy plate this Thanksgiving.
Mouthwash – ask a dentist!
We ask questions around a specific dental health practice or product and a dentist answers. The topic: mouthwash
Scare away cavities this Halloween
Enjoy the costumes, jack-o-lanterns, tricks and treats this Halloween, but scare away cavities with our fang-tastic oral health tips!
What's new in dentistry?
Even with 10,000 years of history, the practice of dentistry is still evolving as new technology and methods are proven effective in the field. Here are a few big updates you may or may not have experienced at your last dental visit.
Mental health & your smile - the connection
You may be aware of the strong connection between your oral health and your overall health, but have you considered that the same connection exists between mental health and your oral health?